Hagan objected to the newspaper asking questions about his friendship with Chris Kennedy, president of the county's private-sector partner in the $425 million project, and complained about being called a "pimp" by a Plain Dealer editorial writer during a local radio show.

Hagan went on to disclose additional, previously unreported ties to Chris Kennedy, president of Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. and son of the late Robert Kennedy, during a nearly seven-minute speech at the commissioners' weekly board meeting.

"Yes, I am the godfather of Chris Kennedy's sister Kathleen's daughter 27 years ago," he said. "And for the record, I was a pallbearer at Chris Kennedy's uncle's funeral, and I went to Chris Kennedy's grandmother's funeral, and I went to the two funerals of his two brothers. If you'd like to note my relationship, all you have to do is ask.

"I believe this project -- this convention and medical mart project -- is important for the future of this town," he continued. "I don't gain anything personally from it, at all."

His remarks come two days after he and his fellow commissioners, under the threat of a lawsuit from the newspaper, promised not to approve a development agreement with MMPI until the public has at least a week to review the deal and all drafts leading up to the deal.

Commissioners have spent more than a year negotiating the deal in secrecy, giving taxpayers few details as to how their money will be spent by MMPI.

Hagan and Commissioner Jimmy Dimora raised the county sales tax a quarter-cent in 2007 to pay for the convention center and mart, essentially a shopping mall aimed at medical professionals and buyers of hospital technology, furniture and fixtures.

MMPI will own the facilities for 20 years while collecting all profits from its operation. Ownership of the facilities reverts to the county after the 20 years.

The Plain Dealer reported Wednesday that some people question whether Hagan's relationship with Chris Kennedy poses a conflict of interest.

Chris Kennedy is the son of Robert and Ethel Kennedy. Hagan is godfather to the daughter of Chris Kennedy's sister Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.

On Thursday, Hagan said the implication that his judgment might be compromised by the friendship is unfair and unwarranted.

He said the press has become too cynical and "out of control for the purpose of seeking readership."

Contacted on Thursday evening, Chris Kennedy said his relationship with Hagan is the reason MMPI came to Cleveland and that Hagan cannot profit from the medical mart deal.

"Who else could get us to come there?" he said. "Nobody's doing business in Cleveland."

Commissioners and MMPI want to build the complex at Cleveland's downtown mall, site of the city's old convention center. Of the three commissioners, Hagan has been the most outspoken in support of the location. One alternative they passed over was Forest City Enterprises' Tower City property.

Hagan predicted Thursday that he would have been criticized if he supported the Tower City site because Forest City executives have contributed about $75,000 to him during his political career.

He also complained about remarks made by Plain Dealer editorial writer Christopher Evans during a broadcast on WCPN FM/90.3 on March 19. Evans said Hagan was the "pimp leading this dance," referring to the commissioner's role in the medical mart project.

"I would predict that tomorrow, in the paper, they won't reveal that they publicly called me that on a radio station, and that they personally apologized," he said. "But they never said anything publicly about that apology. If they want to play politics in this town, they should be held to the same standard as all of us are."

Plain Dealer Editor Susan Goldberg said Thursday that she and Editorial Page editor Brent Larkin called Hagan and apologized as soon as they heard about Evans' remark on the radio.

"While we might have policy disagreements on some issues, there is no excuse to engage in name-calling," she said. "We feel very badly it happened, as does Chris.

"We didn't print anything about this because it would have publicized the 'pimp' remark to a vastly wider audience then heard it on the radio in the first place," she added. "I have no issue with saying we were wrong -- we most definitely were -- I was only trying to shield the commissioner from further embarrassment. Perhaps that was a poor decision on my part."

Goldberg said the newspaper will continue to push commissioners to operate in the sunshine.

"What I do not apologize for is our investigation into the secret negotiations between the county and MMPI, our efforts to make agreements between the parties public and our examination of the relationship between the commissioner and the people who run MMPI," she said. "MMPI will be given a half billion dollars in public money -- it is our job to explore this from every angle. We will continue to do so."